1 November 2024 

University of Limpopo 

The ANC Study Group on Water and Sanitation in the National Assembly (Parliament), is deeply perturbed by the suspension of examinations at the University of Limpopo, allegedly, due to ongoing and severe water supply challenges on the campus.

The Study Group welcomes the swift response by the Polokwane municipality in providing alternative water solutions to the Polokwane hospital, which faced the same challenge as the university and strongly urges university management to accept the filling of their water tanks/reservoirs with water by the municipality, while a lasting solution is being explored, just as the municipality intervened to alleviate the plight of the local hospital.

Water is a vital element of life and its safe and reliable supply, is a function of the municipality as a Water Service Authority and is obliged by SANS 241 and the Water Service Act, 1997 (Act 108, of 1997), to fulfill that role and so, such emergency supply through water tankers, would necessarily comply with the relevant national standard and legislation.

The ANC Study Group on Water and Sanitation, urges the university management to engage the local municipality, to ensure an emergency supply of water to the municipality, to avoid a further disruption of exams.

Gauteng Province 

The Study Group commends the Gauteng Provincial Government’s efforts in engaging municipalities, to respond responsibly to an unreasonably high rate of water consumption per person per day of 279 l, compared to a global average of 173 l per capita, per day.

This is further complicated by encroachment on the Rand Water Board’s pipeline by among others, zamazamas, as well as loss of treated water for consumption — non-revenue water.

Accordingly, the Study Group urges all Gauteng municipalities and few others in Mpumalanga that owe Rand Water (R7.2BN), to pay their current account and arrange to pay the old debt, to help Rand Water do its work.

Similarly, other municipalities across, such as the Matjhabeng (R6.937BN) and Kopanong (another non-paying defaulter) municipalities in the Free State, must act with urgency, to pay Vaal Central, what is due to it, so that it can pay Eskom, treat water and supply it to municipalities.

In the same vein, the grave situation in the Masilonyana municipalities demands a lasting solution, beyond the recent court order compelling the service provider to restore the pre-existing state of the local water treatment plant.

The Study Group further commends Minister Majodina’s bold efforts in raising the Hazelmere dam in KZN, to increase the water supply capacity in the affected communities, as well as other interventions in Limpopo, to the 55 villages in Giyani.

The ANC remains seized with the urgent task of providing water and sanitation to communities, to secure their dignity and well-being.

Issued by ANC Study Group on Water and Sanitation

Enquiries:

Sello Dithebe

ANC Water and Sanitation 

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083 440 5446